ODHRÁN MOLLOY was the Na Rossa saviour as the Lettermacaward men booked their place in the Junior A Championship semi-finals.
Na Rossa 1-09 Naomh Padraig 0-10
Molloy (pictured above) struck 1-3 as Damien Devenney’s team saw off a gallant Naomh Padraig, who were cursing some wayward shooting and decision making as they trundled off with their dockets beaten at the conclusion.
With the game delicately poised, Na Rossa in front 0-8 to 0-7, Molloy hit the only goal of the game 12 minutes from the end.
Adam McHugh sent Christian Bonner on his way and it was he who teed up Molloy who made no mistake with a blistering strike.
Naomh Padraig rallied, but their hopes of making a first JFC final since 2011 lay in tatters when Shane Toolan called for the ball.
They had their moments late on, but just didn’t have the necessary fire power.
They’d been kept in touch largely by the accuracy of Kevin McBrearty and Darren Gillespie, but it was Na Rossa who crept into a semi-final meeting with Division 4 champions Naomh Ultan.
Molloy popped Na Rossa in front in the third minute, but Seamus Breslin was quick on the draw for a response by the Lifford men.
John Paul McCready and McBrearty swapped frees before quick-fire points from Molloy and McCready put the Dooey side two in front in the 22nd minute.
Naomh Padraig were struggling to make inroads at that stage, but they came good with the last four scores of the first half to take the lead for the first time and go in 0-6 to 0-4 ahead at the break.
McBrearty boomed over a ’45 and Shane Gallagher clipped a point on the run to level the scores.
The energised McBrearty ended the half well, landing a superb point to put his side ahead and he added a free to put them two clear.
It was Na Rossa who came out the brighter in the second half and they turned the tie back in their favour with the opening four points.
McCready landed three frees and Adam McHugh – younger brother of Plymouth Argyle player Carl – found his range with a magnificent hit from way out on the left-hand side.
When Gillespie, with the first Lifford score of the second period, sailed over a 45-metre free, Naomh Padraig were back to within a point.
Having been rocked when sub Shane Brennan was black carded only two minutes after being sent on, Naomh Padraig suffered a hammer blow when Molloy fired past Peter McDermott.
Lorny Crossan, Gillespie and McBrearty meant a late Naomh Padraig surge was possible, but Na Rossa held onto their lot.
They might well have had a second goal in the closing moments, but McDermott did well to deny McCready, who was found by the unselfish Pat Caulfield’s delicate pass inside.
Na Rossa: Patrick Hanlon; Daniel Melly, John McDyre, Jamie McCready; Christian Bonner, Daryl Devenney, Conor Melly; Eugene Molloy, Donal Trimble; Conor McCahill, Odhran Molloy (1-3), Adam McHugh (0-1); John Paul McCready (0-5, 5f), John Paul Breslin, Cormac McHugh. Subs: Conor Bonner for McCahill (half-time), Conor McCahill for E.Molloy (38), Pat Caulfield for Christian Bonner (58).
Naomh Padraig, Lifford: Peter McDermott; Damien Tourish, Mark McNulty, Mícheál Ferry; Kevin Lynch, Patrick McNamee, Cíanán Doherty; Paul Lynch, Seamus Breslin (0-1); Jack Quinn, Darren Gillespie (0-2, 1f), David Gethins; Kevin McBrearty (0-5, 2f, 2 ‘45), Lorny Crossan, Shane Gallagher (0-1). Subs: Shane Brennan for Crossan (45), Lorny Crossan (0-1) for Brennan (48) Declan Laferty for Tourish (53), Conor Catterson for Crossan (60).
Referee: Shane Toolan (Aodh Ruadh).
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